Adjustable horse



Feb. 24, 1931. E, D ANDERSON ET AL 1,794,052

ADJUSTABLE HORSE Filed June 13, 1927 III e 'lha/er; on

EQI'S? b/ CM Patented Feb. 24, 1931 f UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELzEE D. ANDERSON, oF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND IRWIN E. DEAEsLEY, OE RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS `'ro WALKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF RACINE,

WISCONSIN, A COEEORATION OE WISCONSIN ADJUSTABLE HORSE Application area :une `13,

This invention relates to an adjustable horse for supporting loads in elevated positions. The device is particularly adapted for use in garages, when there is considerable service work to be done upon a car. The car is elevated by means of a suitable lifting jack and placed upon these stands or horses while the work isbeing done.` i

y l More specilically,the improved horse comprises a supporting standard and a load-supporting post or bar adjustable vertically through this standardto vary the effective height of the horse. Means are provided to support the post against downward movement in its vertically adjusted positions,and at the same time hold the post rigidly against `lateral movement in the standard sothat all side-play. is eliminated, and a stiif and rigid support is maintained when under load.

The general object of this invention is to provide an adjustable horse comprising two relatively movable telesooplng parts, and means for holding these parts rigidly in their different adjusted positions.

, Another object of the invention is to provide anadjustable wedge member for holding lthe vertically movable post against lateral movement in its di'erent adjusted positions. Another object isto provide an lmproved 30 pawl and ratchet mechanism for sustaining the loadssupporting post in its dilferent adjusted vertical positions.

`Other objectsand advantages of thisinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of apparatus designed according to the principles of this invention. i

In the accompanying drawings: i

Fig.' 1 is a vertical perspective view of the 4o assembled horse. I

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical section through the horse, on a larger scale.

VFig. 3 is a horizontal section taken Y Stantially` on the line3-3 of Fig. 2.

block. j Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the pawl.

rlhe standard 1 `is preferably in the` form of a hollow metalliccasting, having a broad supporting base 2 `of any desired configura- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the wedge 1927. `Serial No. 198,387.

tion adapted to firmly support the load and resist tilting forces. The smaller upper portion 3 of standard 1 encloses a vertical passage 4, in which the load-supporting standard 5 loosely fitsandis vertically slidable. One side of the passage l is formed with vertical side walls 6 and 6 which converge outwardly toward one another, as best shown in Fig. 3. At the opposite side of the passage 4, the standard is formed with a pocket 7 opening` outwardly from the passage 4, the wall of this pocket which opposes the passage l bein formed with one or more downwardly an inwardly inclined wedge surfaces 8, as shown in 2. i

The post or bar 5 preferably has a modified Ibeam cross-section, as best shown in Fig. 3. One vertical iange 9 of this bar isformed with spaced apart outwardly convergingvem4 tical `corner faces 10 corresponding to the faces 6 and 6 of the passage Zl, sothat when the post 5 is forced toward the left, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be wedged firmly between and against these side walls of the passage. The opposite vertical flange 11 of the bar 5" is formed with a series of downwardly facingratchet teeth 12. The upper end of post 5 is provided with a suitable load support`- ing head or platform 13. This may be provided with suitable side wings 14 and 15, and a `central axle-engaging concavity 16. The

` lower end of post 5 may be suitably enlarged in any manner, as indicated at 17 to prevent complete withdrawal of the post through the upper end of the standard.

The wedge block 18 fits slidably within i the pocket 7, and has one vertical plane face 19 adapted to engage the outer faces of the ratchet teeth, or the adjacent surface of bar `5, and is formed ou the opposite face with wedge surfaces 20 adapted 1 I to conform to and engage the wedge surfaces sub- S within the standard. lt will be apparent that as the wedge block 18 is forced downwardly, it will wedge itself between the stand-` ard and post 5, and force the posttoward the" `opposite wall of the passage 4 so that the vertical corner faces 10 on the post willfirmly wedge themselves between theconverging Surfaces 6 and, 6 within. the standard.` The lfrom the opposite face of pawl or dog'22'out-r post will thus be held rigidly against any lateral movements. Y

The wedge block 18 is formed with a central cavity, adapted to moi/'ably house the load-supporting pawl 22. The cavity 21 is formed with asemicylindrical lower surface 23 adapted to pivotally support the i'ounded lower edge 24 of the pawl. rl`he outwardly and upwardly projecting tooth 25 at the upper end o'f pawl 22 isadapted to selectively engage one oi the teeth 19on bar or post 5. A pair of side arms 26 project outwardly and downwardlyfrom the lower side edges or' pawl 22, through passages 27 in thewedge block, and may be provided with enlarged weighted ends 28 which may'conveniently -be positioned within the spaces at the sides of the web 29 of the bar 5. These weighted arms 26 serve as counter-weights toV hold the pawl or dog 22 normallyin engagement with the ratchet teeth 19. A finger 30 projects wardly throughthe slot or opening 31 in the side wall of standard 1. A similar linger 32,

l formed on the wedge block 18, also .projects out through the opening 31 vdirectly beneath the finger 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It

will be apparentk that by grasping the two fingers 30 and 32 with one` hand, the finger 30 will be depressed and thus bring the pawl 22 back out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. At the same time, the entire pawl and wedge block assembly may be liftedby pulling upwardly upon the finger 32, so asto release the wedging'engagement between block 18 and the loadsupporting post 5. Vhen the fingers 30 and 32 are released, the pawl and wedge block will bothmove automatically to operative positions when a load is placed f upon the post 5.

In operation, the pawl andrwedge block areV i'irst released inthe manner `just' de-V scribed, by grasping the fingers 30 and 32 and lifting upwardly, and then the .post 5 is rlhe lingers 30 and i `32 are then released'and the post' 5 pressed downwardly, and it willv automatically become locked in this position. One of the teeth 19 will engage the tooth 25' of the pawl or dog f 22, thus forcing this pawl downwardly, which in turn will torce 'the wedge block 18 downwardly. The wedgel surfaces 2O engaging .the stationary wedgesurfa'cesS in the standard 1 will torce the wedgeblock 18 toward theleit" (Fig. 2), which will in turn rigidly clamp'the'wedging surfaces 10'at the opposite Y side of post 5v between the walls 6 andG of the passage A in thestandard. The .greater the load placed upon post 5, the more firmlyand rigidly will the post be clamped in this posi-v tion. L All side-play will be eliminated,-and

"the standard v1 and post` 5 will form substanitially av vsingle rigid unit. sustained must be lifted'eithe'r by hand or The load to be by a suitable lifting jack and placed upon the load-supporting head 13. j i

y t will be apparent that the form and proportions oi' the various parts oi this device could be greatly varied, and still operate according to the principles of thisinvention. The pawl or dog 22 might be omitted entirely, and the horse would still operate undervcertain loads, depending upon ythe wedge 18 entirelyk for locking the post against both vertical and lateral movements. However, the device is more positive and practicable when the pawl is used, as shown and described. On the other hand, vthe wedgeblock 18 might be replaced by a liXed portion of the standard 1, and the Apawl 22 relied upon entirely to (force the post 5 into wedgingengagement with the opposite walls 6 and 6- of the passage 4l. In such case, however, it would be desirable to lhave the pawl 22 tilt at a greater angle .to

' the vertical, so that there would be a greater iorizontalcomponentofthe load placed upon the pawl. lt is to be understoodthat all such inodiiicationsare within the Yscope of the invention as hereindisclosed and claimed.

We claim:

1. A horse comprising a standard having` taneously grasped and moved towardone another or i'novingthese members to inoperative. positions. Y y

2. A horse comprising a standard, a ratchetV bar movable longitudinally therethrough,

a slidable block' adapted to be wedged between the standard andbar, and a pawl mounted in the block and adaptedto adjust v j ably engage the ratchet. pulledupby grasping thehead 13 until it isA at th'ejdesired height.

8. A horse lcomprising a standard, a ratchet bar movable longitudinally therethrough, a slidable 'block adapted-tof be wedged between the standard and bar, .a'pawl mounted in the block and adapted toadjustably engage the ratchet,.and means for moving the lblock and pawl tojinopera'tive positions.

4l.; A horse comprising a'standard, a ratchet bar movable longitudinally.therethrough,

a slidable block adapted to be Vwedged betweenV a vertical passage therein,.the walls of! the passage comprising Va pair ofvertical converging Ysurfaces yat one side thereof,.a kload supporting post adjustable verticallysinithe site side of the post for wedging the post into rigid engagement with the converging surfaces.

6.l Ahoi-se comprising a standard, having a vertical passage therein, the walls of the passage comprising a pair of vertical con verging surfaces at one side thereof, a load supporting post adjustable vertically in the passage, the post having vertical surfaces at one side adapted to interiit between the converging surfaces in the standard, the standard being formed with a pocket at the opposite side from the converging surfaces, the opposed wall of the pocket inclining inwardly and downwardly toward the passage, and a wedge member positioned in the pocket and adapted to force the post toward the converging surfaces.

7 A horse comprisingr a standard, having avertical passage therein, the walls of the passage comprising a pair of vertical converging surfaces at one side thereof, and a pocket formed in the standard at the oppo site side of the passage, the opposed wall of the pocket inclining inwardly and downwardly toward the passage, a load-supporting post movable vertically in the passage, the post having vertical surfaces at one side adapted to' interit between the converging surfaces in the standard, and having a vertical series of ratchet teeth at the other side, a wedge block positioned in the pocket and adapted when forced downwardly to wedge the post against the converging surfaces, and a pawl pivotally mounted in the wedge block and adapted to engage the ratchet teeth to prevent downward movement of the post past the wedge block.

8. A horse comprising a standard, having a vertical passage therein, the walls of the passage comprising a pair of vertical converging surfaces at one side thereof, and a pocket formed in the standard at the opposite side of the passage, the opposed wall of the pocket inclining inwardly and downwardly toward the passage, a load-supporting post movable vertically in the passage, the post having vertical surfaces at one side adapted to interfit between the convergingsurfaces in the standard, and having a vertical series of ratchet teeth at "the other side, a `wedge block positioned lin the pocket and adapted when forced downwardly to wedge the post against the converging surfaces, a ratchet pivotally mounted in the wedge-block and adapted to engage the ratchet teeth, there being a slot in the outer wall of the standard communicating with the pocket, and lingers projecting from the pawl and wedge block through this slot for moving these members to inoperative positions.

9. A horse comprising a standard, a loadsupporting post adjustable vertically in the standard and formed with three spaced apart vertical clamping surfaces which would have a triangular relation with one another if the surfaces were extended., there being a pair of vertical clamping surfaces in the standard having a similar angular relationship to two of the surfaces on the post and between which the post is adapted to be wedged, and movable means adapted to be wedged between a portion of the standard and the third clamping surface on the post.

10. A horse comprising a standard, formed with a pair of vertical clamping surfaces positioned at an angle 0f less than 180o with each other, a load supporting post adjustable vertically in the standard, said post having two spaced apart vertically extending corner clamping surfaces positioned to be engaged with a wedging action between the clamping surfaces in the standard, and a movable member mounted in the standard and positioned to be wedged between a portion of the standard and a third side of the post whereby the post will be forced into wedging engagement with the clamping surfaces in the standard.

ELZER D. ANDERSON. IRWIN E. DEARSLEY. 

